REPORT: NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MICHAEL FLYNN DID DISCUSS RUSSIAN SANCTIONS BEFORE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE “Citing unnamed current and former U.S. officials, the Post said some senior U.S. officials interpreted the contacts as a ‘potentially illegal’ signal to Russia that it could expect a reprieve from sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in December.” [HuffPost]

THAT BORDER WALL IS GOING TO COST MORE THAN TRUMP THOUGHT Try $21.6 billion. [Reuters]

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON FINAL PIECE OF DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE The project will reportedly be completed in three months. [HuffPost]

NO, CHRIS CUOMO, BEING CALLED ‘FAKE NEWS’ IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING CALLED THE ‘N-WORD’ The CNN anchor has since apologized for his statements. [HuffPost]

‘AS PUTIN LOOMS AND TRUMP WITHDRAWS, ESTONIA IS TRAINING CIVILIANS TO FIGHT’ “Civilians are volunteering in droves to fight Russia’s little green men, should they cross the border.” [HuffPost]

WHAT’S BREWING

‘THE REVENGE OF THE LUNCH LADY’ “How an unassuming bureaucrat outsmarted Jamie Oliver and pulled off an honest-to-God miracle in one of America’s unhealthiest cities.” [HuffPost]

FEELING LESS PRODUCTIVE SINCE THE ELECTION? A third of the American public feels the same way. [The Atlantic]

SINCE EVERYONE IS HAVING TWINS NOW... It’s official. George and Amal Clooney are expecting twins. And yes, insert joke about how they’ll be besties with Beyonce and Jay Z’s twins here. [HuffPost]

SAY GOODBYE TO BOB COSTAS AS YOUR GO-TO OLYMPICS HOST He’s handing over the reins to Mike Tirico. May his pink eye live on in infamy. [USA Today]

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT REMAINS SACRED How is Major League Baseball tinkering with the rules this way? How could they think this upheaval in the extra innings structure is what we need right now? [USA Today]

YOU CAN RESCHEDULE YOUR ALLOTTED TIME FOR THE SOB FEST THAT WILL BE THE ‘THIS IS US’ FINALE As it’s been moved back a week to accommodate a Trump speech. [HuffPost]

BEFORE YOU GO

~ Have you ever seen anyone more excited than this mom of boys learning she’s pregnant with a girl?